AN iconic Oxford tap-dancing busker who was still entertaining shoppers well into his 90s has died.

Alistair MacDonald, who was also known as Captain Tap or Colonel Mustard, spent a quarter of a century tap-dancing in the city, although he had scaled back his performing over the past two years.

Mr MacDonald, 97, died from pneumonia earlier this month and a funeral will be held at Oxford Crematorium on Wednesdayat 2.30pm.

Joyce Pottinger, who became Mr MacDonald's "next-of-kin" after caring for him when they both lived in a warden-controlled flat in George Moore Close, Oxford, said: "We were all looking forward to celebrating his 100th birthday - it's such a shame that we won't be able to do that.

"Alistair was a landmark on the Oxford scene for about 25 years.

"He was too frail to play much during the past two or three years but people will remember him for tap dancing to his rock music outside Marks & Spencer in Queen Street or outside the Midland Bank in Cornmarket.

"When we lived together in George Moore Close I started to look after him because some people would give him abuse in the street and I didn't think that was fair."

Mrs Pottinger, 70, of Owens Way, Cowley, said Mr MacDonald moved to Longlands care home in Balfour Road, Blackbird Leys, about 12 months ago.

Sharon Fenn, manager of the care home, said: "Mac was such a cheerful person and he had a great 12 months with us.

"He loved the entertainment we provided in the home and as long as he had that and his cigarettes he was happy."

Yesterday another of Oxford's well-known buskers, bagpiper Heath REichardson, said: I used to see him all over the place and he must have been doing it for years.

"It's a sad day because it is people like him that made busking a live and ongoing tradition."

In 2005, Mr MacDonald went missing for a week and sparked a police hunt after he went walkabout in London for a "change of scene".

He strolled out of his warden-controlled flat wearing a blazer, top hat and bow tie - and with just £40 in his pocket.

When Mr MacDonald didn't reappear that night, neighbours raised the alarm because they were worried he had left without his vital medication. During the next eight days, police searched for him.

A week later, he was returned home by staff from St Thomas's Hospital in London after a week sleeping on a roof and on the banks of the Thames.

Mr MacDonald said after his trip he was mystified by the fuss but pleased he had been missed.

"I just fancied going to London," he said. "I didn't tell anyone, because I didn't know I was going for long. But it seems they ve all been worried about me."

Born in Glasgow in 1911, under the name of George Pirie, he took the name of MacDonald as his stage name, and said he had spent his life travelling the country as an entertainer.

Regularly seen tap dancing in Cornmarket Street, he was featured in the Cheeky Book of Oxford (2003) and also said he had worked with Norman Wisdom, and won the Bognor Regis Opportunity Knocks contest back in 1981.